‘Fit for Life’- Reducing Health inequality: A programme based approach

October 7, 2010

Quentin D. Sandifer, Director of Public Health,

NHS Camden and London Borough of Camden

Summary of the presentation

• Rationale of the Healthy Communities Action Group

• Aims and objectives• The key local health priorities identified by

the community• Activities and interventions• Challenges and opportunities

Action group membership

• Individuals • Community representatives• Voluntary sector organisations• Housing associations• Social enterprises• Private sector• NHS Camden• London Borough of Camden

Aims & Objectives

Specific aims

• To improve understanding of healthy lifestyle• To improve access to services • To empower local people and communities • To build an understanding of ‘what works’ in community based

public health

Outcomes

• Increased awareness of services• Increased physical activity levels and improved diets• Reduced isolation and increased social networks• Residents participating in decision making mechanisms• Productive working partnerships

Engaging communities and the decision making process

• Speaking to people in the community• Community groups• Service providers• Evidence base • Timebanking

Key local health priorities identified

• Poor Diets– Lack of basic cookery

skills– Low levels of literacy– Lack of healthier options– Affordability

• Physical inactivity– Affordability– Time– Childcare– Fear of crime

• Isolation/mental well being

• Lack of information

Activities and interventions

• Delivered by the healthy communities team– Lifestyle mentoring programme– Community events/workshops/ Panel discussions– Walking programme– Section 106– Training– Work experience/Work placements– Media project– Facilitating involvement of local communities in

decision making– Creating the links

Activities and interventions

• Delivered by partner organisations– Food growing– Community events– Non contact boxing with young people– Youth offending green scheme– Training– Access to volunteering programme

• Delivered by individual volunteers– Hip Hop and Bingo for over 50’s– Cookery Clubs

Challenges

Existing challenges• Sustaining interest and the momentum• Evaluation

Future Challenges• Preserving partnerships• Sustaining the dialogue created between

communities and service providers• Economic climate• Organisational change

Opportunities

• Productive working partnerships• Prevention• Innovation • Empowering communities

Links

Director of Public Health Annual Report for Camden 2009-10

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nhscamden/healthreport0910

Camden’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessmenthttp://www.camden.nhs.uk/joint-strategic-needs-assessment.htm